SocEnt Weekend: Business Ideas That Can Make a Difference (Xconomy)
The event kicks off Friday evening at the Hub Seattle, a co-working space in Pioneer Square aimed at people tackling social issues. Mayor Mike McGinn is expected to speak, and there are all-star mentors, prizes for the winners, and some entrepreneurial lessons during the program.

Which Seattle neighborhood are you most like? (Big Blog)
Pioneer Square: I know, I know. When you were young, people were different. There were lumberjacks and prostitutes and a bunch of floods. We’ve heard this one before, Grandpa. [editor’s note: I don’t get it…]

Rising gas prices just another chance to milk the masses (Seattle Times)
Groundhog Day, Part Deux: Emboldened by the smattering of applause after his recent proclamation that the city will defy all known laws of physics by aiding and abetting the world’s first “self-funding” pro sports arena, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn is expected to announce plans to revitalize Pioneer Square via the installation of self-cleaning toilets. Oh, wait; we already took a bath on that idea, too.
[editor’s note: I don’t know what this reporter is talking about… there is no one talking about self cleaning toilets in PSq. We are working on getting a staffed public toilet, but not a self cleaning one]

The Arena proposal: Oh, what a lovely donnybrook! (Crosscut)
In the basketball and hockey proposal, Seattle has the high-stakes, long-drawn-out conflict it loves to wallow in. Here’s a rundown on the major issues and how they will shake up Seattle politics.

Seattle Mardi Gras celebration is now dead and gone (Examiner)
I officially declare Seattle Mardi Gras as dead, dead, dead. The politics of the city wanted it dead and it took years for it to happen, but politics won. This was a giant revenue source for badly hurting retail operations throughout Seattle, not just Pioneer Square. If Seattle’s elected officials were smart they could have turned this day into something a little more retail minded.